Method and system for printing secure value documents and non-secure documents utilizing the same printing device

ABSTRACT

A printing system for printing both secure value documents and non-secure documents while ensuring that fraudulent copies of secure value documents printed by the printing system can be detected is provided. The printing system determines if the source is a secure or non-secure source. If the source of the image is a secure source, it will print the image, including any graphic security features. If the source is a non-secure source, before printing the image a filter is applied to the image data to remove any graphic security features included in the received image and/or the printing system will not add any graphic security features to the received image to ensure that the printed image will not contain any copy detection graphic security features.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to printing, and moreparticularly to methods and systems for printing secure value documentsand non-secure documents utilizing the same printer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Secure printing systems are typically used for printing secure valuedocuments, e.g., postage, tickets, money orders, etc. Since suchdocuments may have substantial cash value, there exists a continuingproblem of preventing the copying of such documents to generatefraudulent documents. To aid in the detection of copies, graphicsecurity features are introduced into the images, including, forexample, watermarks, odd print resolutions, specialized inks, etc. Suchsecurity features are difficult, if not impossible, to reproduce withtypical “off-the-shelf” printers, scanners or copiers. Thus, thesecurity features enable detection of any copies of such secure valuedocuments that have been printed or reproduced by other devices.

Since the security features enable the detection of copies of the securevalue documents, it is necessary to ensure that the secure printingsystems themselves cannot be used to print fraudulent images whichcontain the security features. It is therefore necessary to control thesource of the images being printed by the secure printing systems,thereby preventing a dishonest person from providing a fraudulent image,e.g., a counterfeit postage indicium, ticket, money order or the like,to the secure printing system, which will print the security features inthe fraudulent image, such that it appears legitimate. As a result, suchsecure printing systems are single purpose devices, i.e., they can onlybe used to print value documents from a secure source and cannot be usedto print any other types of images. This restriction limits theusefulness of such secure printing systems. For example, a postage labelprinter may be able to print postage and address information, but cannot be used to print corporate logos or product labels since the imagescould be fraudulent copies of valid postage indicia which would beindistinguishable from original valid postage indicia.

Thus, there exists a need for a printing system that can be used toprint both secure value documents and non-secure documents whileensuring that fraudulent copies of secure value documents printed by theprinting system can be detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention alleviates the problems associated with the priorart and provides a printing system that can be used to print both securevalue documents and non-secure documents while ensuring that fraudulentcopies of secure value documents printed by the secure printing systemcan be detected.

According to embodiments of the invention, the printing systemdetermines if the source of the image is a secure or non-secure source.Optionally, the printing system can also authenticate the source of theimage to be printed utilizing, for example, cryptographic techniques orcommunication protocols. If the printing system is able to determinethat the source of the image to be a secure, trusted source, it willprint the image, including any graphic security features, therebyrendering any copies of the printed image detectable. The graphicsecurity features may be included as part of the image received from thesecure source or added by the secure printing system. If the printingsystem determines the source is not a secure source, before printing theimage a filter is applied to the image data to remove any graphicsecurity features included in the image received from the non-securesource and/or the printing system will not add any graphic securityfeatures to the image to ensure that the printed image will not containany copy detection graphic security features. Thus, even if the imagedata from the non-secure source is an exact copy of a valid valuedocument, e.g., a postage indicium, the image printed by the printingsystem will be different from the same image received from a securesource and therefore detectable as a fraudulent copy since it will nothave any of the required graphic security features. Alternatively, or inaddition to, application of the filter, the printing system can alsooptionally check that an image received for printing from a non-securesource complies with predetermined restrictions placed on such images.Such restrictions could include, for example, dimensional restrictions,stock restrictions, etc. If the image violates one of the predeterminedrestrictions, the printer can attempt to modify the image such that itcomplies with all of the restrictions before printing, thereby changingthe image to signify it is not authentic. If the image cannot bemodified, the printing system can refuse to print the image. Byutilizing the printing system of the present invention, both securevalue documents and non-secure documents from different sources can beprinted while still ensuring that fraudulent copies of secure valuedocuments can be detected, thereby allowing the printing system to beused for multiple purposes.

Therefore, it should now be apparent that the invention substantiallyachieves all the above aspects and advantages. Additional aspects andadvantages of the invention will be set forth in the description thatfollows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may belearned by practice of the invention. Moreover, the aspects andadvantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate like or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form a printing system according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates in flow diagram form processing performed by thesystem illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates in flow diagram form processing performed by thesystem illustrated in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates in flow diagram form processing performed by thesystem illustrated in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In describing the present invention, reference is made to the drawings,where there is seen in FIG. 1 in block diagram form a printing system 10according to an embodiment of the present invention. Printing system 10could be, for example, a system for printing postage as well as otherimages, e.g., corporate logos, product labels, etc. System 10 includes aprinter 12 coupled to one or more host applications 14 (only one shownin FIG. 1 for clarity). The host application 14 may or may not beintegral to the printer 12. One example of a host application 14 that isnot integral with the printer 12 is a personal computer application suchas a word processor. One example of a host application 14 that isintegral with the printer 12 is a photo printer that allows a user toprint images from a digital camera memory card. The printer 12 includesa printer controller 16, such as, for example, a special purposeprocessor or ASIC, to control operation of the printer 12. A memorydevice 22 may be provided to store, for example, operating instructionsand data, image data, and the like for use by the printer controller 16.The printer controller 16 is coupled to a print engine 18 that controlsoperation of a print head 20. The printer controller 16 receives imagedata and optionally print control instruction data (hereinafter referredto collectively as image data) from the host application 14 andgenerates control signals for printing of the image based on thereceived image data. The print control instruction data could include,for example, resolution, color depth, selection of ink cartridge forprinting, selection of medium upon which printing is to be performed,etc. The image could be, for example, an indicium that evidences paymentof postage. Based on the image data, i.e., print control instructionsignals, from the printer controller 16, the print engine 18 willcontrol the print head 20 to print the image. The secure printing system10 may be a single unit or may be implemented as a peripheral device. Ifimplemented as a peripheral device, portions of the host application 14and printer controller 16 may be implemented in a host computer, suchas, for example, a personal computer. Similarly, the host application 14may further be implemented as a combination of a host computerapplication and a remote data center application.

The operation of the printing system 10 according to an embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in flow chart form in FIG. 2. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the graphicsecurity features are included in the image data received from the hostapplication 14. The host application 14 formats image data to send tothe printer controller 16 for printing. In step 40, the printercontroller 16 receives the image data for printing from the hostapplication. In step 42, the printer controller 16 authenticates thesource of the image data that was received from the host application 14to determine the actual source of the image data. It should be notedthat the authenticating step 42 may be optional and need not beperformed if so desired. The authentication performed by the printercontroller 16 can be done in several different ways. One way isutilizing cryptographic techniques. For example, the data could becryptographically signed using a cryptographic key, and the digitalsignature verified by the printer controller 16 utilizing acorresponding key. If the cryptographic signature associated with theimage data is verified, the source of the image data is authenticated.Alternatively, a message authentication code (MAC) could be associatedwith the data and verified by the printer controller 16.

Another way of authenticating the source of the image is using achallenge/response protocol for communications, e.g., mutuallyauthenticated Secure Socket Layer (SSL), between the printer controller16 and host application 14. Thus, the printer controller 16 can issue achallenge to the host application 14 upon receiving image data, and onlyif the host application 14 provides the expected response to thechallenge will the printer controller 16 deem the source of the imagedata as authentic. Another way of authenticating the source of the imageis by using different communication protocols for communication withdifferent sources. For example, the image data from an authentic sourcecould be provided with a transaction counter and an authorization code.The authorization code could be based on the transaction counter andother secret data shared between the printer 12 and authorized hostapplications 14. Thus, only if the image data includes the appropriatetransaction counter (and not a repeat of a count already processed) andan appropriate authorization number will the printer controller 16 deemthe image data as authentic from an authorized source.

The host application 14 could also direct the printer controller 16 toobtain the image data directly from the memory 22. In this situation,since the image data is being retrieved from the internal memory 22 ofthe printer 12, the printer controller 16 can deem the source of theimage data as authentic. It should be noted that while several examplesof authentication methods are described above, the present invention isnot so limited and any desired method can be utilized to authenticatethe source of the image data.

Once the source of the image data has been authenticated (or not) instep 42 (if authentication is being performed), then in step 44 theprinter controller 16 will determine if the source is a secure source ornon-secure source. A secure source is a source that is known by theprinting system 10 to be authorized to generate secure value documentsand ensure that proper financial accounting for such secure valuedocuments has properly occurred. A non-secure source is any source thatis either unknown to the printer 12 or is not authorized to generatesecure value documents. In many situations, the authentication of thesource will also result in the determination that the source is a securesource. For example, if the image data is signed with a cryptographickey and the signature verifies, the source is both authenticated anddeemed secure. Similarly, if an appropriate challenge/response protocolis utilized, the source would be both authenticated and deemed secure.If the image data is retrieved from the internal memory 22, the sourcewould be deemed secure. In some cases, determination of a source as asecure source could be based on the source being included in a look-uptable maintained by the printer 12, or the use of a predeterminedcommunication protocol by the source. Alternatively, the determinationof a source as secure or non-secure can be based on authentication ofthe source. Thus, for example, to determine if a source is secure ornon-secure, authentication of the source (as described above withrespect to step 42) may be attempted. Typically, if the source is unableto be authenticated, it will be deemed a non-secure source. It should beunderstood that there may be situations in which even though the sourceof the image data is authenticated, e.g., known, the printer controller16 may deem the source to be non-secure. For example, the hostapplication 14 may be a word processing program or the like that whileauthorized to print using the printer 12, may not be authorized togenerate secure value documents.

If in step 44 it is determined by the printer controller 16 that thesource of the image data is a secure source, then in step 46 the printercontroller 16 will cause the printer to enter into a secure print modeand the printer 12 will print the image as received from the hostapplication 14, including any graphic security features included in theimage data. If in step 44 it is determined by the printer controller 16that the source of the image data is not a secure source, then in step48 the printer controller 16 will cause the printer 12 to enter into anon-secure print mode and apply a filter to the image data to modify theimage data to alter, e.g., degrade or remove, any graphic securityfeatures included in the image data. The filter applied by the printercontroller 16 can be a traditional image processing filter or simply adifferent way of processing the image, e.g., a different communicationprotocol.

The application of a filter by the printer controller 16 to the imagedata can be done in several different ways. The printer controller 16can apply a low pass filter to the image data to remove any highfrequency components, thereby ensuring that any graphic copy detectionfeatures are adequately degraded (or effectively removed) such that theydo not reliably reproduce when printed. One method of implementing sucha low pass filter is by embedding it in the communication protocol fornon-secure images. For example, the protocol for communicatingnon-secure images may allow for images up to 300 dots per inch (dpi)resolution while secure images would be required to be printed at 600dpi. Thus, if a graphic security feature or features, intended to beprinted at 600 dpi, are printed with a resolution of only 300 dpi, thesecurity features will be degraded to such a point as to be effectivelyremoved from the image. Thus, if the image is an attempt to fraudulentlyprint a value document, the actual printed image will be discernible asfraudulent to verification equipment due to the degradation or absenceof the security feature or features. In addition, since the securityfeatures are either sufficiently degraded or completely removed in theactual printed image, detection of any copies (e.g., photocopy,scanning, or the like) of the actual printed image is easilyaccomplished due to the lack of proper security features. The printercontroller 16 could also apply a notch filter to the image data toremove a specific range of frequency components from the image, therebyensuring that the security features will be degraded to such a point asto be effectively removed from the image. One benefit of using a notchfilter is that if the bandwidth is narrow enough, the visual degradationof the image to the human eye may be unnoticeable. Thus, while theactual printed image may still look correct to the human eye, thedegradation or absence of the security feature or features will beeasily detected by verification equipment.

The printer controller 16 can also apply a color depth reduction filterto the image data to reduce the number of colors (or gray scale) in theimage data received from a non-secure source. This filter willeffectively eliminate any copy detection features that require a largedynamic range of colors. This filter operates similarly to the low passfilter as described above except in the color domain. The printercontroller 16 can also apply a color shift filter to the image data tochange the relationship between the colors in the image. For example,the contrast levels of grayscale may be distributed along a curve whenthe image data is from a secure source, while the contrast level inimages from non-secure sources may be distributed linearly.Alternatively, black ink may be used when printing image data from asecure source to render black portions of the image while other colorsmay be mixed to render black portions of an image when printing imagedata from a non-secure source.

It should be noted that while several examples of the application of afilter to the image data are described above, these are exemplary onlyand the present invention is not limited only to the illustratedexamples, but can utilize any type of filtering that would sufficientlydegrade or completely remove any graphic security features included inthe image data from the actual printed image. In addition, it should beunderstood that the printer controller 16 can apply one or more of thefilters to the image data as desired. Once the filter (or filters) hasbeen applied to the image, then in step 46 the image data will beprinted, without any of the security features included in the imagedata. Thus, even if the image data from a non-secure source was an exactduplicate of a secure value document, the security features required inthe actual printed image will be sufficiently degraded or absent,thereby rendering the printed image detectable as fraudulent as well asany copies of the printed image.

The operation of the printing system 10 according to another embodimentof the invention is illustrated in flow chart form in FIG. 3. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the graphicsecurity features are not included in the image data received from thehost application 14, and the printer 12 is required to add such securityfeatures to the image data, when necessary as described below, beforeprinting the image. Steps 40, 42 and 44 are similar as described withrespect to FIG. 2, and need not be repeated in detail. Briefly, in step40, the printer controller 16 receives the image data for printing fromthe host application; in step 42, the printer controller 16 optionallyauthenticates the source of the image data that was received from thehost application 14; and in step 44 the printer controller 16 willdetermine if the source is a secure source or not. If in step 44 it isdetermined by the printer controller 16 that the source of the imagedata is not a secure source, then in step 52 the printer controller 16will cause the printer 12 to enter into a non-secure print mode and theprinter 12 will print the image as received from the host application14, e.g., without any graphic security features. If in step 44 it isdetermined by the printer controller 16 that the source of the imagedata is a secure source, then in step 50 the printer controller 16 willcause the printer to enter into a secure print mode and modify the imagedata to add a graphic security feature or features to the image databefore the image is printed.

There are several different types of and ways in which security featurescan be added to the image data. For example, the resolution of the imagecan be utilized as a security feature as described, for example, in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,611,630; 6,533,385 and 6,612,684. Changing the resolution ofthe image can be accomplished, for example, by including instructions inthe image data to change the speed of the transport of the medium onwhich the image is being printed or the rate at which the printingoccurs (print strobe timing). This will change the resolution of theimage in one direction. The change can be absolute, e.g., images fromnon-secure sources are printed at 300 dpi, images from secure sourcesare printed at 307 dpi, or may vary across the image, e.g., images fromnon-secure sources are printed at 300 dpi, images from secure sourcesare printed at a resolution that varies from 290 dpi to 310 dpi across asingle image. The change in resolution could also be related to datapresent in the image, such as, for example, the transaction amount ofthe value document. Another security feature that could be added to theimage is the addition of instructions to print a border to at least oneside of the image. Preferably, the border would contain a copy detectionpattern, and is preferably located in an area that is a non-printablearea when printing in the non-secure mode (thereby preventing the borderfrom being printed when the printer 12 is printing in a non-securemode). Another security feature that could be added to the image isinstructions for the printer to physically modify the medium on whichthe image is being printed. This can be performed, for example,utilizing a punch or knife blade in the printer 12 that marks thesurface of the medium during printing. If the print head 20 is a thermalcontact print head, the medium can be physically modified by overheatingspecific elements of the print head 20 to melt the overcoat of thethermal media, utilizing, for example, methods as described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/936,251, filed on Sep. 8, 2004.Preferably, these physical modifications of the medium vary from imageto image based on the content of the image, e.g., transaction amount,date, etc. Other types of security feature that could be added includeuse of fluorescent inks or watermarks, such as, for example, asdescribed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002/0176114,2003/0156733, 2005/0087605, 2005/0114668, and 2005/0127187. Another typeof security feature includes the use of color gradients as described inU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0071295. Another type ofsecurity feature includes embedding of information in the image such as,for example, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2003/0052178.

The addition of a security feature or features to the image data can bedone in several different ways. For example, the printer controller 16can modify the image data that it receives by modifying the data itselfand/or sending specific control signals to the print engine 18, e.g.,modifying the print resolution for each image or within an image. Thesecurity features can also be added by the print engine 18 causing theimage to be printed in a non-standard fashion, e.g., printing with theprint head 20 at an angle, moving the drive gear axis of the print head20 slightly off-center to produce non-uniform print resolution, or thelike. Security features could also be added by the use of controlledstock when printing in the secure print mode. For example, the paper orlabel stock (medium upon which the image is to be printed) itself mightincorporate security features, e.g., micro-printing. The printer 12 canincorporate sensors 24, such as, for example, optical sensors or thelike, that will determine if the proper stock is available for printing.If the proper stock is not sensed during the secure print mode, theprinter controller 16 (or print engine 18) will not print the image.

After the security feature (or features) has been added in step 50, thenin step 52 the printer 12 will print the image, including the securityfeature added in step 50. Thus, image data from a non-secure source willnot include any security features, thereby enabling detection of afraudulent secure value document or copies thereof, while image datafrom secure sources will include the required security features in theactual printed image.

It should be noted that the processing as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3is not mutually exclusive and can be performed in conjunction for eachset of image data requested to be printed. Thus, for example, for allimage data from a secure source, the printer 12 will add one or moresecurity features to the actual printed image, while for all image datafrom a non-secure source the printer controller 16 will apply a filterto the image data to remove any security features. This type ofprocessing is preferable if the security feature being added to theimage data from a secure source is a watermark, which could bereproducible when the printer 12 is printing in a non-secure mode. Thus,even if image data from a non-secure source includes a watermark, theapplication of the filter will prevent the watermark from being printedin the actual printed image, thereby rendering the printed images fromsecure and non-secure sources different.

The operation of the printing system 10 according to another embodimentof the invention is illustrated in flow chart form in FIG. 4. In thisembodiment the printing system 10 preferably checks that an imagereceived for printing from a non-secure source complies withpredetermined restrictions placed on such images. The processingperformed as illustrated in FIG. 4 can be performed along with or inlieu of the processing as described in FIGS. 2 and/or 3. Steps 40, 42and 44 are similar as described with respect to FIG. 2, and need not berepeated in detail. Briefly, in step 40, the printer controller 16receives the image data for printing from the host application; in step42, the printer controller 16 can optionally authenticate the source ofthe image data that was received from the host application 14; and instep 44 the printer controller 16 will determine if the source is asecure source or not.

If in step 44 it is determined by the printer controller 16 that thesource of the image data is a secure source, then in step 60 the printercontroller 16 will cause the printer to enter into a secure print modeand the printer 12 will print the image received from the hostapplication 14. Optionally, one or more security features may be addedor removed from the image received from the host application 14 asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. If in step 44 it is determinedby the printer controller 16 that the source of the image data is not asecure source, then the printer controller 16 will cause the printer 12to enter into a non-secure print mode and in step 62 determine if theimage data (including the data representative of the image and/or printcontrol instruction data for printing the image) as received complieswith one or more pre-determined restrictions placed on images fromnon-secure sources. One type of restriction, for example, includesdimensional restrictions of the image. Such dimensional restrictionscould be stored, for example, in memory 22, and retrieved by the printercontroller 16. Typically, images of secure value documents are printedat a fixed size in at least one dimension or within a range of valuesfor that dimension. For example, a postage indicium must be one inchhigh or between 0.9 and 1.0 inch high. Thus, any images from anon-secure source must not be allowed to replicate these exactdimensions. If the dimensional restriction is a fixed size, e.g., oneinch, the printer controller 16 will check to ensure that images fromnon-secure sources are not approximately one inch, e.g., between 0.95inches and 1.05 inches high. It is also preferable if the image from anon-secure source is larger than the restricted area to ensure that theimage is not simply a copy of a secure value document surrounded bywhite space.

Another restriction example is the type of stock on which the image willbe printed. A sensor 24 in the printer 12 can determine the type ofstock that is currently in the printer 12. Stock reserved for printingimages received from secure sources can have certain properties, e.g.,fluorescence, that can be detected by the sensor 24. The printer 12 willnot print images from a non-secure source on the stock reserved forimages from a secure source. Another restriction example is the use of aspecific ink. Typically, secure value documents are required to beprinted with inks having specific characteristics. For example, postageindicia require red fluorescent ink. If the image is from a non-securesource, the printer controller 16 (or print engine 18) will not allowthe print head 20 to print the image using the ink supply reserved forimages from only secure sources.

If in step 62 it is determined that the image data and/or printinstructions for printing the image data as received complies with thepre-determined restrictions placed on images from non-secure sources,then in step 60 the printer 12 will print the image data as receivedfrom the host application 14. If in step 62 it is determined that theimage data and/or print instructions for printing the image data asreceived does not comply with one or more pre-determined restrictionsplaced on images from non-secure sources, then in step 64 the printercontroller 16 determines if the image data and/or print instructions canbe modified such that the image data and/or print instructions willcomply with all of the restrictions. For example, if the dimensionallimitations are not met, the printer controller 16 can scale the imageto a slightly different size such that it meets the dimensionallimitations. If the print instructions requested the ink reserved foronly images from a secure source, the printer controller 16 can modifythe instructions to use a different ink to print the image. Themodifications can also include adding a visual indication to the imagedata to indicate that the image appears to be an attempt to create acopy of a secure document, e.g., the words “Not Valid Postage” could beadded to the image. If the image data and/or instructions for printingthe image can be modified to meet all of the restrictions, then in step68 the image data and/or print instructions are modified such that allrestrictions are met, and in step 60 the modified image data is printedor the image data is printed with the modified print instructions. If instep 64 it is determined that the image data and/or print instructionscan not be modified such that all restrictions are met, then in step 66the print controller 16 will cancel the print request for the image,thereby preventing any fraudulent printing of secure value documentsfrom non-secure sources.

Thus, according to the present invention, a printing system is providedin which both secure value documents and non-secure documents fromdifferent sources can be printed, while ensuring that fraudulent copiesof secure value documents from non-secure sources are not printed andsecure value documents from secure sources include copy detectionfeatures. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that variousmodifications can be made without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. For example, security features could be added toevery image printed by the printer 12, with different security featuresbeing added to images from secure sources as compared with images fromnon-secure sources. Thus, based on the security feature included in theprinted image, it can be determined if the actual printed image is alegitimate secure value document or a fraudulent copy.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary ofthe invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions,deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by theforegoing description but is only limited by the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A method for a printing system to print an image based on image datareceived from a source comprising: determining if the source of theimage data is a secure or non-secure source; if the source is determinedto be a secure source, printing the image using the image data asreceived; if the source is determined to be a non-secure source,modifying the image data to alter a graphic security feature included inthe image data; and printing the image using the modified image data. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein modifying the image datafurther comprises: applying a filter to the image data.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the filter is a low pass filter.
 4. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein the filter is a notch filter. 5.The method according to claim 2, wherein the filter is a color depthreduction filter.
 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the filteris a color shift filter.
 7. The method according to claim 1, whereindetermining if the source of the image data is a secure or non-securesource further comprises: authenticating the source of the image data.8. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining if the source ofthe image data is a secure or non-secure source further comprises:verifying a digital signature or message authentication code associatedwith the image data.
 9. The method according to claim 1, whereindetermining if the source of the image data is a secure or non-securesource further comprises: utilizing a challenge/response communicationprotocol.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining ifthe source of the image data is a secure or non-secure source furthercomprises: verifying the image data includes an authorization code. 11.The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is used toprint postage and the image is an indicium that evidences payment ofpostage.
 12. A method for a printing system to print an image based onimage data received from a source comprising: determining if the sourceof the image data is a secure or non-secure source; if the source isdetermined to be a non-secure source, printing the image using the imagedata as received; if the source is determined to be a secure source,modifying the image data to add a graphic security feature to the imagedata; and printing the image using the modified image data.
 13. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein modifying the image data furthercomprises: altering the resolution at which the image data is printedfor at least a portion of the image.
 14. The method according to claim13, wherein altering the resolution further comprises: altering theresolution based on data present in the image data.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein modifying the image data furthercomprises: adding a border to at least one side of the image whenprinted.
 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein modifying theimage data further comprises: adding instructions to the image data tophysically modify a medium upon which the image is being printed. 17.The method according to claim 16, wherein the printing system includes athermal contact print head, and the instructions include instructions tooverheat specific elements of the thermal contact print head to melt anovercoat of the medium upon which the image is being printed.
 18. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein modifying the image data furthercomprises: adding instructions to print the image data in a non-standardmanner.
 19. The method according to claim 12, wherein modifying theimage data further comprises: determining if a medium upon which theimage to be printed is an authorized medium; and if the medium is not anauthorized medium, preventing the image data from being printed.
 20. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein determining if the source of theimage data is a secure or non-secure source further comprises:authenticating the source of the image data.
 21. The method according toclaim 12, wherein determining if the source of the image data is asecure or non-secure source further comprises: verifying a digitalsignature or message authentication code associated with the image data.22. The method according to claim 12, wherein determining if the sourceof the image data is a secure or non-secure source further comprises:utilizing a challenge/response communication protocol.
 23. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein determining if the source of the imagedata is a secure or non-secure source further comprises: verifying theimage data includes an authorization code.
 24. The method according toclaim 12, wherein the printing system is used to print postage and theimage is an indicium that evidences payment of postage.
 25. A method fora printing system to print an image based on image data received from asource comprising: determining if the source is a secure or non-securesource; if the source is determined to be a secure source, printing theimage using the image data as received; if the source is determined tobe a non-secure source, determining if the image data complies with apredetermined restriction for image data received from a non-securesource; and if the image data complies with the predeterminedrestriction, printing the image using the image data as received. 26.The method of claim 26, wherein if the image data does not comply withthe predetermined restriction, the method further comprises: determiningif the image data can be modified and such that the image data willcomply with the predetermined restriction; and if the image data can notbe modified such that it will comply with the predetermined restriction,canceling printing of the image.
 27. The method according to claim 26,wherein if the image data can be modified such that it will comply withthe predetermined restriction, the method further comprises: modifyingthe image data such that it will comply with the predeterminedrestriction; and printing the image using the modified image data. 28.The method according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined restrictionincludes a dimensional restriction, and modifying the image data furthercomprises: modifying the image data to change a scale of the image suchthat the dimensional restriction is met.
 29. The method according toclaim 27, wherein the predetermined restriction includes a type of inkwith which the image can be printed, and modifying the image datafurther comprises: changing to a different type of ink to print theimage.
 30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the predeterminedrestriction includes a dimensional restriction.
 31. The method accordingto claim 25, wherein the predetermined restriction includes a type ofmedium upon which the image can be printed.
 32. The method according toclaim 25, wherein the predetermined restriction includes a type of inkwith which the image can be printed.